Howe leaves Newcastle United amidst the club's gravest crisis since the PIF takeover, and Guimaraes is expected to transfer to Arsenal.

According to the English media outlet i Paper, Newcastle is on the verge of announcing Howe's departure, and the club has been searching for a successor for over two weeks. Howe stated at the end of last season that he still had the energy to lead the team into a new era, but he changed his mind two weeks ago. It is understood that this decision was amicable, and Howe will temporarily step away from football to rest. Matthias Jaissle will be officially confirmed as the new head coach this weekend as Newcastle travels to the La Manga training camp.

This is an orderly transition, with Newcastle indicating that Jaissle's imminent appointment shows the club had succession planning in place for several weeks. But from the outside, the project appears to be rocked by turmoil for the second consecutive summer. It can be argued that Howe's departure is justified—a worrying regression last season after remarkable progress, and his coaching style did not align with the club's shift towards signing young European prospects—but the timing is very poor and raises big questions about the scope of the project's planning.

Newcastle has already sold two of their best players and will likely sell a third—Guimaraes. According to the i Paper, Guimaraes is expected to transfer to Arsenal, which will cost Newcastle another jewel. His successor will be 38-year-old German coach Jaissle, who previously coached Al Ahli and gained Red Bull system coaching experience at Salzburg. He is energetic, favors high-pressing and attacking football, but his resume is relatively thin, making Newcastle's move a gamble.

The rift between Howe and the club has been brewing for some time. At least one senior figure had reservations about Howe's performance last season, and during meetings at Mattfen Hall among club executives, some analytical data was not favorable to Howe. Management issues during matches were mentioned. The minimum target for the season was European qualification, which was not achieved—this had serious consequences for the club. The financial situation deteriorated, and some players (not just those who have left) expressed a desire to leave without European football. There was a general consensus within the club that this season could not be repeated.

But Howe had also assured Newcastle that he was energetic and willing to embrace the challenge of a new era, a new team, and new goals. Newcastle remained firm in their support for him at the time, but he decided to withdraw a few weeks later. Sources insist he agreed with the transfer plan, but he was unsure if the type of players being brought in and potential further sales would give him a chance to restore his reputation among fans. Clearly, the departures of Anthony Gordon and Tonali (both key lieutenants to Howe) influenced his thinking. The unrest of Guimaraes and Lewis Hall also did not help the situation, and the type of players Newcastle was signing also caused him concern.

The i Paper understands that there were tensions within the club this summer, particularly regarding the missed opportunity to sign Spanish winger Victor Muñoz. Sources say "frank" conversations took place for weeks. This is also why Jaissle's transfer progressed so quickly, with Newcastle aiming to have him in place within three weeks to start work on the training ground and integrate new signings.

It is regrettable that Howe is leaving under these circumstances. He has been Newcastle's most successful and influential manager since Kevin Keegan (who later became his friend). He built a team capable of troubling stronger opponents and won Newcastle's first trophy in over 50 years. Paris Saint-Germain, Wembley, two Champions League campaigns, countless brilliant Premier League victories at a fervent St. James' Park—he truly "understood" Newcastle. He will never be forgotten.

For the club's hierarchy, there are now huge problems. The club's message remains ambitious, and PIF is still committed to investing in large infrastructure projects (an announcement regarding the training ground may come in September), but the timing is off. If a change was inevitable, why wasn't it done at the end of the season? That way, Howe could have received a farewell, and the new coach could have been fully involved in the shift in transfers. Why did no one make that decision then?

Newcastle currently appears weak in the transfer market—able to sell players but unable to bring in experienced replacements. If Guimaraes leaves, he will be the fourth big-name player to request and be granted departure—Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest seem more determined to retain their star players. The club urgently needs communication from the top. Ross Wilson and David Hopkinson are doing their best in difficult circumstances, but where is PIF? Under financial fair play constraints, is Newcastle aiming to become another Brighton or Bournemouth? Or will they take control of the situation at some point and demonstrate their off-field resolve? This hasn't happened for some time. Howe's departure has plunged the team into deep waters, and it remains uncertain whether they can surface.

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